A69234:1276
Lectures upon the four first chapters of the prophecy of Hosea Wherein the text…Lectures vpon the foure first chapters of the prophecie of Hosea Wherein the text…
Lectures upon the four first chapters of the prophecy of Hosea Wherein the text is expounded and cleared, and such profitable instructions observed, and applied, as naturally arise out of this holy Scripture, and are fit for these times. By John Downame Bachelor in Divinity, and preacher of Gods word.Lectures vpon the foure first chapters of the prophecie of Hosea Wherein the text is exponded and cleered, and such profitable instructions obserued, and applied, as naturally arise out of this holie Scripture, and are fit for these times. By Iohn Dovvname Bacheler in Diuinitie, and preacher of Gods word.
London: printed by Felix Kyngston and T. East for William Welby, 1608
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The second thing to be observed is, that as voluptuous 1pleasures do take away the understanding and transform men into beasts, so especially whoredom and drunkenness: for first, for Whoredom, it maketh wise men fools, and so infatuateth and besotteth the understanding, that there is no place left, not only for spiritual wisdom, but not so much as for reason and common sense. For they who are addicted to this vice, care not so they may satisfy their carnal lusts, though they run headlong and blind-fold into all mischiefs; they expose their name to infamy and reproach; they wast their substance in maintaining Harlots, and bring themselves to extreme poverty; they are so blinded that they cannot see the odious behaviour, the shameless impudence, and ugly filthiness of their Harlots, but are ready to judge their vices virtues, and to esteem them of greater excellence then any other; they cast off all care of wife and children, as though they were mere strangers; they lay aside all shame, and think nothing so filthy which they may not speak, nothing so uncivil which they may not do in any presence; they consume their strength, infect their bodies with loathsome diseases, shorten their lives, and damn their own souls. And all these mischiefs they run into to satisfy their filthy lusts, and to enjoy a short and brutish pleasure. Hence it is that the Heathen called Venus [Greek or Hebrew], a stealer of hearts, and made Cupid blind, because they who are possessed with lust, loose the light of their understanding, and the use of reason. And hereof it is that the sin of uncleanness by a certain kind of eminence is in the Scriptures called folly, and the Adulterers fools. So Shechem when he deflowered Dinah, is said to have committed folly in Israel. Gen. 34. 7. So Tamar dissuading Ammon from 2uncleanness, willeth him not to commit that folly. So the wise man teacheth us, that he who committeth Adultery with a woman, is destitute of understanding, and destroyeth 3his own soul. Prou. 6. 32. and Chap. 7. ver. 7. he marshals ⟨p. 222⟩